It was reported today that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez tested positive for Steroids in 2003.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Apbx96KQJxGyJj6CMx8u51sRvLYF?slug=ge-mannyortiz073009&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
I am tired about the Steroid talk in baseball, but this does matter, and can not be ignored. While I object to only some names being released from the listing of the 104 players who tested positive – to what was supposed to be an anonymous test – I am glad that the names continue to come to light.
Baseball more than any other game is a game built on stats. Positive steroid results do not say the players that used steroids lacked incredible skills, but it does put into question all of their achievements.
People who do not care about steroids often say that steroids do not give you hand and eye coordination, but that is not the point.Steroids do help you get bigger, stronger, leaner… which increases bat-speed, which is how power is generated.
If you hit 5 homeruns a year, which would have previously been fly-outs, that now make their way over the wall, that is a discernable difference to career stats over-time.
Maybe the question of being able to compare historical eras of baseball is overblown; after all Babe Ruth never had to fly across the country, or face African-American players, or Latin players, or Asian players…. (On the other-hand, he did have to travel by train, and was facing less teams)… so maybe I can get past the idea of what positive Steroid results do to the game historically.
However, it is hard to know what numbers from the last 25 years are legit.
Bonds, Rodriguez, and Manny are all-time great players. Ortiz is one of the best players of this era. Bonds had already won 3 MVP awards with Pittsburgh, before there is any evidence of him using steroids.You can not question his skill. What you can question though, are his accomplishments.
As Tom Boswell illustrated in his tremendous Dec 2004 article, ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33704-2004Dec3.html ) before Bonds hooked up with his old friend and alleged steroid merchant Greg Anderson in ’98, he had 411 homers in 6,621 at-bats, one per 16.1 at-bats. The next two years, as he acquired and adjusted to a new body, he hit 83 in 835 at-bats, one per 10 at-bats. In the four seasons of 2001 through 2004, from ages 37 to 40, Bonds hit 209 home runs in 1,642 at bats — one every 7.9 at-bats.In those four years, Bonds won four straight National League most valuable player awards, two batting titles and set the all-time single-season records for home runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, walks and intentional walks.You do not get bigger and stronger in your late 30’s. You do not reach another-level of ability, if left to natural devices.You do not achieve those numbers, without the aid of Steroids.Bonds on his own would have continued to put up strong numbers… but not the numbers he did.He cheated, and he tarnished his legacy, and he hurt the legitimacy of the game.
What hurt about ARod, is that you believed he had a chance to beat Bonds HR record, and restore legitimacy to that record.What you found out in February, is that he can not.People deserve second-chances, and if ARod has been clean since, good for him.What I would advocate for him, is to wipe-away his numbers and MVP award from the 2003 season, and provide regular samples going forward.That is the only way, which I believe you will be able to look back at his career, and believe in the numbers he posted.
Otherwise, ARod figures to ultimately be best remembered for the comments he made to Katie Couric in the YouTube link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVcqLt9sJLs
What hurts about Manny, and Ortiz is that they were the heart of the Boston lineup that won World-Titles in 2004, and 2007. That is not a personal title that is tainted, but championships.
They tarnished the game, and their reputations should pay the price.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.